Acetylene-gas generator.



-A.L.BLAGK. A GETYLENB GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1,1910.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON', D. c.

A. L. BLACK.

AGETYLBNE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1910.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COHWASIHNGTON. b. c.

ARTHUR L. BLACK, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLENE-GAS QENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Application filed November 1, 1910. Serial No. 590,199.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. BLACK, citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to improvements in acetylene gas generators, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of def vices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is auto matic in its action, so that the amount of gas generated corresponds to the amount required.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and, in the drawings illus trative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a trans verse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4i is a perspective view of a portion of one of the carbid receptacles, illustrating its. construction.

The improved device comprises in general six main portions, an outer shell or casing, which includes a support or receptacle for a plurality of vessels containing the carbid; an annular bell or gasometer, whereby the requisite pressure is produced for discharging the gas as fast as generated; a plurality of carbid holding vessels; a water sealed hood for the carbid vessel holder; a purifier for the generated gas; and an automatic operating water supplying device.

The inclosing shell of the improved apparatus is represented at 10, and is preferably circular and open at the ends and provided with a transverse diaphragm 11 spaced from the bottom. The shell 1.0 is arranged to rest in a pan 12 which contains water, indicated 'at 13, and thus forms a water seal for the chamber formed by the diaphragm 11 and the water in the pan.

A lip device 14 is connected to the pan 12 v to permit water to be supplied thereto,

The chamber in the shell 10 which is formed by the diaphragm is provided with an internal partition 15 which divides it into two compartments as shown in Fig. 3,

and for the purpose of this description one of these compartments is indicated by the character 16 and the other compartment by the character 17. The partition 15 is connected gas tight to the diaphragm 11 and the wall of the shell 10, and is provided in its lower edge with a plurality of openings, preferably equally spaced apart, to allow water to freely flow between the two compartments. The partition 15 thus serves as a brace or support to the diaphragm 11. Extending through the diaphragm 11 and into the compartment -16 is a service pipe 18, the service pipe extending at its upper end a considerable distance above the upper edge of the shell 10 and terminating at its end near the bottom of the pan and within the compartment 16 and thus forming a water sealed exit for any vapor which would otherwise collect and thus preventthe formation of a trap which would otherwise be produced if this extension were not employed. Extending from the service pipe 18 and within the compartment 16 is a branch 19 which extends through the side of the shell and is turned upwardly and leads into a smaller shell 20, which contains purifying material such as hair, felt and the like. Leading from the purifier 20 is the main supply connection 21, with a controlling valve 22 therein. Leading from the compartment 16 is another pipe 23 which forms an escape for the gas from the blowoff, and is preferably provided with abranch leading to the outside air if the apparatus is located within a building, or directly to the open air if the apparatus is erected out of doors. The pipe 23 is provided with a' branch 24 connecting and leading into the pipe 19 and provided with a controlling valve 25, the object to be hereafter explained.

Leading from the diaphragm 11 is another pipe 26 which extends to the same height as the pipe 18. Leading from the diaphragm 11 and communicating with the other com partment 17 is a pipe 27, similar to the pipe 26. Supported upon the diaphragm 11 is a casing or holder 28 in which a plurality of carbid supporting vessels are located.

Any required number of the vessels may be employed, but for the urpose of illustration three are shown. s the vessels are precisely alike and interchangeable, the description of one will suffice for all.

Each of the vessels comprises a pail-like structure 29, each having a lifting bail 30 which is closely foldable upon the top of the vessel, so that a plurality of the vessels may be superposed within the casing or holder 28, as shown. A weight 31 of requisite size is employed upon the upper receptacle to retain them in position and prevent them from being displaced by the action of the water. Each of the receptacles 29 is divided by vertical partitions 34 into a plurality of compartments. Eachof the receptacles as provided near its upper edge with a plurality of relatively small orifices 32 to permit the escape of the gas, and each receptacle is like wise provided with two larger orifices 33 spaced below the orifices 32. By this arrangement Water flows into one of the compartments of each receiver. Two of the three divisions of each receiver 29 are also provided with large orifices, preferably two,

as at 34' and 34, in their upper edges to correspond with those in the side of the receptacle. By this means when the water rises around the outside of the receptacle it will overflow through the larger orifices in the sides of the receptacles into the first compartment and thus act on the carbid in that particular compartment until all of the carbid is slaked and the compartment flooded, when the surplus water will overflow through the orifices inthe partition into the second compartment and then into the third, and then the water will rise and flow into the next receptacle. By thus dividing the carbid the efliciency of the device is materially increased, as the water thus acts consecu tively upon all parts of the carbid, as hereafter more fully explained.

Rising from the diaphragm is still another pipe 35 which terminates near the upper end of the holder 28 and is supported therefrom at suitable intervals by bands or brackets 36. The pipe 35 opens through the diaphragm 11 and thus communicates with the compartment 17 of the main shell 10.

"Located upon the bottom of the shell 10 within the compartment 17 is a coiled spring 37 having a disk 38 at its upper end and supporting a yieldable valve, of leather, rubber or the like 39, which is thus adapted to be pressed by the spring against the bottom of the pipe 35 and form a closure thereto when the hood is removed, as hereafter explained. Extending through the pipe 35 and connected to the valve 38 is a rod 40, the upper end of the rod extending beyond the top of the pipe, the object to be hereafter explained.

Connected to the holder 28 near its lower end, preferably opposite to the pipe 35, is a small sheet metal casing 41 into which a pipe 42 extends, the pipe having a lateral opening 43 which is located opposite to an aperture 44 in the adjacent side of the holder 28. Fitting within the pipe 42 is a rod 45 having a buoyant float 46 at its lower end. It will be noted that the float 46 does not bear on the Water in the tank 10, but is within the tube 42 which has no connection with the tank 10, but is directly connected to the carbid pan holder by means of the casing 41 and through the openings 43 and 44, and the water column inside the tube 42 will only stand 3 inches higher at all times than the water in the carbid pan holder, this 3 inches being due to a difference of pressure within and without the cover, as hereafter explained. Thus the float and the rod will show by its position exactly how many buckets of carbid have been used.

Formed upon the side of the holder 28 is a feed tube 47 communicating at suitable intervals by openings 48 with the interior of the holder. The tubular member 47 is provided just below the normal water line with an opening 48, while a plurality of similar openings lead from the tube 47 into the holder. By this means the water is supplied to the holder and rises therein and passes through the apertures 32 into the carbid chambers and in contact with the carbid.

Fitting over the holder 28 and inclosing the tubes 40 and 47 is a hood structure 4-9 closed at the upper end and open at the inner end and constantly hearing at its lower edge in the water within the shell 10, and thus forming a sealed cover for the carbid holder. The member 49 is provided with a suitable relief valve 50, and is likewise provided with a handle 51 to facilitate the handling of the same. The main bell of the improved device is represented as a whole at 52 and is formed annularly as shown, or with an outer wall 53 and with an inner wall 54. The outer wall 53 is located externally of the pipes 26 and 27, while the inner wall 54 is located externally of the sealed cover member 49 of the carbid holder. The pipes 18, 26 and 27 are thus located within the bell 52. Connected to the shell 10 is a guide bail 55, and the bell 52 is provided with guide devices 56 which engage the member 55 and move upwardly and downwardly thereon, as will be obvious. By this means the bell 52 is retained in position and not only prevented from lateral movement but also prevented from rotary movement within the shell. Extending from the upper end of the bell member 52 are two domelike structures 57 into which the upper ends of the pipes 18, 26 and 27 pass when the bell is moved downwardly to the bottom of the shell 10. The pipes 18, 26 and 27 preferably terminate about 4 inches above the water line to prevent any danger of the water overflowing into them, and thus the neccssity for the projections 57 upon the bell 52. By this means the hell can descend to the bottom of the shell 10. Connected to the upper end of one of the dome-like structures 57 is a relatively large pipe 58 open at its lower end and bearing over the pipe 26 and constituting, together with the pipe 26, a blowofi' which effectually prevents any excess gas within the bell 52. The pipe 58 is provided with suitable apertures 59 near its lower end which permit the gas to enter the pipe 58 and thus escape to the pipe 26 when the dome is elevated, as hereafter explained.

The bell 52 when elevated by the accumulation of any excess of gas carries the pipe 58 upward with it until the latter reaches a point where the apertures are above the water line, when the excess gas passes through the apertures and down through the blowofli' pipe 26 into the compartment 16 and thence through the pipe 23 into the open air, thus automatically disposing of any excess or superfluous gas which may be generated and avoiding all danger from this source.

The rod 40 of the valve 38 extends above the holder 28 and is engaged by the top of the water sealing member 49, so that when the hood is in position the valve 3839 is maintained in open position, and to provide means for the free passage of the gas into the chamber 17 and thence through the pipe 27 into the gasometer or bell 52, and thence through the service pipe 18 to the purifier 20. When the receptacles 29 require to be replenished, the member 49 is removed from the rod 40 so that the spring 37 immediately closes the valve 39 and prevents the escape of any gas which may be contained within the condensing chamber and the gasometer. All back pressure is thus effectually and autom atically prevented.

The pipe 35 opening downwardly into the chamber 17 and the pipe 27 leading upwardly from the chamber, the partition 15 serves as a connecting medium to confine the gas within the chamber 17 and prevent it from passing into the chamber16, hence there is no necessity for connecting the blowoff pipe 26 with the other end of the pipe 23, as any excess gas can pass only from the pipe 26 to the pipe 23 and thence out of doors.

Then it is desired to discharge all of the gas from the apparatus, this can readily be done by closing the valve 22 and opening the valve 25, when all of the gas beneath the main bell will escape to the open air. By

- this means all of the gas within the apparatus can be removed so that the parts may be dismembered without danger or annoyance from disagreeable odors. A suitable tank 60 for the water is employed in connection with the improved apparatus, and may be located at any desired point, but is preferably supported by bracket-s or braces 61 from the shell 10 and provided with a discharge faucet 62 and a filler plug 63. Connected to the shell 10, adjacent to the faucet 62, is a filling lip 64, and the discharge end of the faucet extends into this filling lip a sufficient distance with its discharge end constantly immersed in the water. The tank must necessarily be airtight, and is an important feature of the improved device.

The water in the shell 10 passes into the holder 28 and naturally lowers the water line until the end of the faucet 62 is above the water line so that air immediately passes through the faucet into the tank and bubbles up through the water and thus permits the water to run out until the water line is raised enough to again close the discharge end of the faucet, thus cutting off the inlet of air and automatically stopping the flow of the water. By this means the water line is kept at a certain uniform stage.

Different forms of acetylene gas burners vary slightly as to the proper pressure of gas required, but the majority of burners require a pressure over and above the ordinary atmospheric pressure of about one and one quarter ounces to the square inch of surface, or a pressure that will sustain a vertical column of water 3 inches above the level, as 3 cubic inches of water weigh one and one quarter ounces (apothecary weight). As an illustration assuming that the bell 52 is 32 inches in diameter from outside to outside and the cylindrical opening in the bell 14 inches in diameter, the area of water surface covered by the bell is approximately 650%; square inches. Therefore in order to obtain the pressure required, (one and one quarter ounces to the square inch,) the weight of the bell must be approximately 812 ounces, or 67 pounds. If the weight of the metal of which the bell is constructed does not weigh this much weights should be added as required.

Assuming that the cover 49 is 12 inches in diameter and has an area of 113 square inches, and as the chamber covered by the member 49 is in constant communication with the chamber covered by the bell 52, the upward pressure will also be one and one quarter ounces to the square inch, which is approximately 12 pounds, the required weight of the cover to balance the weight of the gas bell. But as the member 49 must not move up and down as the bell 52 does, it must be heavier to overbalance the pressure within the bell to hold .it in its downward position and thus retain the valve 39 in open position. The spring 37 exerts a slight upward pressure against the cover 49 which must also be considered in supplying a weight to the bell. If the member 49 is constructed 14 inches in diameter it will weigh about 12 pounds, and a sufficient additional weight must be supplied to balance the bell 52 and hold the member 49 in downward position. The cover 49 when in downward position being engaged with the rod 40 of the valve 3839 holds the rod and valve downward and thus maintains the valve 38 normally in constant open position until the cover 49 is removed. By this means the communication between the interior of the cover 49 and the chamber below :the diaphragm 11 and with the interior of the bell 52 remains open, as will be obvious.

The initial weight of the cover 49 need not necessarilybe as great in proportion as the bell 52, as its area is greatly less than the latter. Its weight must be in proportion to the surface covered and enough over .to be sure of overbalancing the gas bell 52.

The gas bell 52 being made to exert a pressure of one-and one quarter ounces to the square inch oflsurface covered over and above the atmospheric pressure, or a pressure that will sustain a 3 inch column of water the apparatus will operate as follows: In startgas generates it flows down through the pipe 35 into the chamber 17 and thence through the pipe 27 into the bell 52 and creates a pressure of about one and one quarter ounces to the square inch over and above the atmospheric pressure and thereby lowers the water level on the inside of the bell 52 and also in the chamber within the cover 49 and sustains a 3 inch column of water around the walls 53-54 of the bell, the 3 inch water column also covering the discharge end of the faucet 62 and thus stops the feed of the water. As the gas is used from under the gas bell the latter falls until it rests on the diaphragm 11 again and thereby relieves the pressure, and the '3 inch water column outside of the bell also immediately falls and raises the level on the inside of the bell and the cover 49 and also uncovers the discharge of the faucet 62 and causes the latter to feed more water to the tank 10 and again raises the level until it overflows the orifice 48 and again starts the generation of the gasand thus repeats the operation. Thus the operation of the vmachine depends upon the natural tendency of water to seek its level under normal conditions. I

' The improved device it will be noted does not have any carbid feeding attachments, but depends wholly upon the automatic operation of the machine to cut off the supply of water when the pressure rises to a certain predetermined point, and thus correspondinglychecks the generation.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an acetylene gas generator, a shell divided into upper and lower sections, a holder in the upper section, carbid receivers in said holder, a hood bearing over said holder, a gasometer within said upper section, means for providing communication between said hood and said lower section, means for providing communication between said lower section and said gasometer, .a valve operative to close the communicating means between the holder and lower section, inea'ns operative by said hood to hold said valve open, and discharging means leading from said gasometer.

2. In an acetylene gas generator, an in closing shell divided into an upper and a lower section with the lower section divided into two compartments, a gasometer and a holder within the upper shell section, a carbid receptacle within the holder, means for supplying water to said holder and gasometer and operating to flood the carbid receptacle, a hood bearing over said holder, a conductor leading from within said hood and into one of the compartments of said lower shell section, a spring controlled valve operating to yieldably close said conductor, a rod connected to said valve and extending into the path of said hood to hold the valve normally open, a gasometer within said shell, another conductor leading from said compartment of the lower shell section and into the gasometer, and a'service pipe lead-' ing from the gasometer;

3. In an acetylene gas generator, an inclosing shell dividedinto' an upper and a lower section, means for supplying water to said upper shellsection, an annular gasometer in said upper shell section and including outer and inner walls, aholder in said upper shell section and extending into the space defined by the inner and outer walls of the gasometer, said "holder having an opening slightly below the normal water line in the shell, a carbid receptacle in said holder, a hood bearing. over said holder and the carbid receptacle therein and removable through the gasometer, a conductor between said hood said lower shell section, another conductor -between said lower shell section and saidgasometer, a service conductor leading from said gasometer, a supply tank, and means whereby the normal water level is maintained in the tank.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR L. BLACK. [L.S.] Witnesses:

L. F. JORDAN,

E. E. ADUINAYAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. G. 

